Wednesday, January 20, 2010

BANDIT INVASION - DAY 3

Today marks the middle point of our Bandit Invasion Week. We hope you are having fun with the vignettes. Nancy Northcott, KJ Howe, Cassondra Murray and Jeanne Adams have provided you with a variety of vignettes with the above picture in mind. So delve deep into your creative mind, get those juices flowing and finish off one or more of the vignettes. The prize package up for grabs today is a $10 B&N gift card from KJ, a signed copy of Dark and Deadly and Dark and Dangerous from Jeanne, a $10 B&N gift card from Cassondra and a $10 Borders gift card from Nancy. Wow, I wish we Dishies were eligible to win!

Our first vignette today is from Nancy Northcott. Nancy enjoys all types of word play but considers fiction a unique window to the human heart. In her books, she combines adventure and romance in the development of true love for her characters. She has finaled in the Golden Heart and various chapter contests and has won several, with her most recent win the 2008 Maggie Award for Excellence in Contemporary Single Title. She has published freelance newspaper and magazine features and teaches college classes in American cultural history.

Vignette #1 by Nancy Northcott

“Amazing house.” Rick’s gravelly voice crackled over the Team X comm net. “Be a shame to blow it up.”

Crouched beside her partner, Ian, behind the bushes off the long drive, Lisa Marshall barely listened. The idea of destroying something so old and beautiful and precious to her family made her ill. But if Kralek’s soul-stealing demons had used the psi power accumulated here to open a portal from their world, only the house’s total destruction would stop them.

Tall, chestnut-haired Ian squeezed her shoulder in silent support. Only he knew how much the house really meant to her, and she trusted him to keep that quiet. Especially after last night’s unexpected flare of passion between them, which neither of them seemed to know how to handle in the morning light.

“Move in,” Rick ordered.

Silently, they stole down the wide lawn. They’d almost reached the house when something under Ian’s foot went click. He froze, and they both looked down.

Trip wire. Crap. The demons had human help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After graduating from University of Toronto with a Specialist Degree in Labor Management Relations, KJ Howe tried the business world—but the creative pull to write was irresistible. She returned to school to complete a Master’s in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania where she wrote her thesis, ONE SHOT, TWO KILLS. KJ has the honor of winning three Daphne du Maurier awards for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense and numerous other writing awards. She works as a medical, health, and fitness writer, excellent training ground for research and answers to countless Jeopardy questions.

Vignette #2 by KJ Howe

Thirty seconds until nirvana. Mariah climbed out of the limo that had been sent for her and stared at massive plantation-style home. Very intimidating, especially for a girl who’d struggled to eradicate all signs of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. She tottered along in her three inch heels, strolling down the red dirt path. Was he watching? She straightened her spine and quickly wiped her damp palms on her gingham dress. Four questionnaires, two interviews, and a background check—heck, it felt like she was being vetted by the FBI. All so she could meet Mr. Right. What had the lady at the agency said? They’d found a perfect match and he wanted her to come over that very day. She climbed the steps to the porch, her knees wobbling and her heart throbbing. She inhaled a deep breath. Here goes. Turning, she came face-to-face with—

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Romantic Suspense author, Jeanne Adams is a woman of many talents. The former marketing executive also has degrees in interior design and landscape design, worked in the funeral and cemetery business for several years, teaches classes on fascinating topics such as Body Disposal and is now happily employed as a consultant and full-time writer. The author of two romantic suspense novels, Dark and Dangerous and Dark and Deadly, Jeanne's next book, Deadly Little Secrets, will be released this fall.

Vignette #3 by Jeanne Adams

Spring at Twelve Oaks made the funeral easier. The harsh beatings and brutal shouts were gone. Gabe could appreciate the old place now, ten years beyond the pain it represented. With his grandfather safely buried, he wanted one last look. Did ghosts still roam the halls? The retreat company he was selling to was banking on it.

He joined the day’s last public tour as it reached the library.

“In continuous use since seventeen-ninety,” the perky guide offered, “Twelve Oaks is full of ghost stories. One tale, the Death of the Pirate, centers on this very room.” Memory made him smile; it was a good story.

A hint of perfume drew his attention. At his glance, the woman to his right concealed a detailed site map she’d drawn, even as she pretended to listen.

Later, near midnight, with the house dark and empty, he slipped into the library. If stealing was her game, tonight after moonset would be optimal. He would wait, catch her in the act and then…

Cassondra Murray lives in Southern Kentucky in the midst of corn and soybeans with her husband, Steve, and their “children”--three Search & Rescue dogs, two cats, and a few thousand honeybees. When she’s not blogging with the Romance Bandits, cleaning the guns in the Bandit arsenal, or tending bar in the Lair, she writes Romantic Suspense and Futuristic Romance.

Vignette #4 by Cassondra Murray

March 1st.

A good day for a sick bastard to die.

So why the hell was she shaking?

Marci twisted the zoom on the Schmidt-Bender scope way too hard. She was Marci by-god Gidcomb and her hand never shook. It didn’t shake when she made her first kill at 19. Or last week, when she sent Alabama’s Attorney General to his final reward.

She focused on the bedroom window. Second from left. Upstairs. Same as always.

The man moved back and forth across the room. She had only to wait. He’d unbutton his shirt, peel it off, she’d see the sweat stains on his undershirt and then she’d smell him--

Stop it. Stop it now. Marci let out a breath.

And there he was, in front of the dresser, unbuckling his belt. Dead center in her crosshairs.

Sweat dripped from her camouflaged face into the black mud.

She felt down the edge of the trigger guard and curled her finger forward...

220 comments:

I'm looking forward to today. Hadn't seen my fellow Wednesday banditas' vignettes yet. As with the other days, they're all different takes on the photo, so I'm eager to see what everyone else makes of them.

Welcome Nancy, Jeanne, Cassondra and KJ! What terrific vignettes! I'm absolutely fascinated by the different directions y'all have gone with this picture. Can't wait to see what continuations our posters come up with.

I'm off to bed now but I'll be back bright and early in the morning. Have fun!

Hey, what cool vignettes. I had to laugh, though. I looked at that lovely house and started imagining people waltzing around in beautiful long dresses and lovely Regency breeches and boots (um, not on the same person!). You guys looked at it and saw the opportunity for mayhem. Nancy, love the humans getting involved in yours. That made me laugh out loud! And you other three are nothing but bit teases. So WHAT does happen next? Come on, people don't leave me in suspense. After yesterday, the bar really has been placed high!

#1Lisa and Ian looked at each other who was helping them surely not Rick was he behind all of the problems that had bought them together ?

#2Her sworn enemy from the wrong side of the tracks Peter had grown up with Mariah but had turned to drugs and had obviously made a lot of money. He had always had a soft spot for Mariah had he changed though?

#3And then what? she was a really hot looking Lady but what was she after there were lots of valuable items in this room could he seduce her when she got there and get her to forget about stealing?

#4Why was she having so much trouble pulling the trigger was it because after all this time she had discovered a conscience what had this guy ever done to her , nothing but the money was good perhaps after this one she could retire or retire now she had enough money to live on for the rest of her life.

Oh, wow! I KNEW things would be blowing up today and people would be offed before breakfast. I'm glad to see our suspense sisters fulfilled all my bloody wishes. *g*

KJ, I have a VERY bad feeling about Mr. Right and all his questionnaires! Cassondra, I love a female assassin! Nancy, can't wait to see what the demons and their humans have in store. And Jeanne, I'm sure our hero will give the possibly-would-be thief some what for!

This is the most fun EVAH. I'm sure the Dishies will have plenty of mayhem following these vignettes!

Wow the Bandita Invasion!!! I love it. This is so exciting. These vignettes make me long for the books! Such great ideas. Ok, here's my stab at it.

Vignette #1 Lisa blanched as she looked down to see several other trip wires cleverly hidden in the underbrush. ‘Damn’. Now would be a good time for her latent powers to show up. With all the strength she could muster Lisa dug deep for the small stirring of white light with in her. As she concentrated on bringing that light to full force the tree beside her blew up. That was all the impetuous she needed – and for the very first time in her life, the white light within turned on full force and seconds later she found herself and all 10 of Ian’s men smack dab in the middle of her grandmother’s kitchen in Kentucky.

Vignette #2Here goes. Turning, she came face-to-face with her ex-husband! Jeremy hadn’t changed much in the past four years. He was still tall. He was still fit. And he still had that 3 inch scar on his right cheek. He stood there just looking at her with the same half grin that always appeared on his face when he found something amusing. Mariah was just about to turn around and run all the way back to Dallas on her three inch heels when she saw a little girl standing behind Jeremy. She couldn’t have been more than three years old, and with that head of bright red hair and cherub smile the last thing Mariah expected this little imp to say was “ Daddy, is this my new Mommy?”

Vignette #3If stealing was her game, tonight after moonset would be optimal. He would wait, catch her in the act and then finally have the long awaited talk with his childhood friend. Jodi had been dogging his trail since they were in kindergarten and she’d always known what horrors filled this house. He hadn’t seen her in almost seven years and he couldn’t imagine what she wanted now, but he was certainly up to the challenge of finding out. He’d heard that she’d been in jail a while back but didn’t know any of the details. Now would be a good time to find out what she was up to and to maybe rescue her from herself.

Vignette#4She felt down the edge of the trigger guard and curled her finger forward and just as she was about to pull - she stopped. She couldn’t do it, not even for all the money they were paying her. They could threaten her family, even kill her, but she wouldn’t shoot Darius. He was the one man who believed in her even when she hadn’t believed in herself. How did she get caught up in this in the first place? Was there any possibility she could just walk away and start again? Would they hunt her down for the rest of her life? There was only one way to find out. Slowly she put the rifle down and walked away.

Good morning, Bandits and Dishes! We are blessed with four more wonderful vignettes! Like Anna, my initial impression was "historical" and none of the vignettes were, so I was surprised. Can't wait to see what everyone has in store for endings!

Marisa! (waving wildly) So glad you were able to make it to the party...and you brought some terrific stories with you! When are you going to turn that creativity to book writing? Seriously! These are wonderful!

For you posters who never made it to RomanceNovelTV (RNTV) before they closed up shop last fall, Marisa and her twin sister, Maria are the incredibly creative and savvy women who created the site where Gannon, Buffie, Andrea and I first started reviewing books. Marisa and Anna Campbell are the creative forces who originated the Bandit Invasion/Vignette idea last year at RNTV.

Deb, I definitely start off with a fragment of an idea and go from there. I often have an idea for a scene that ends up being my first chapter. Now, I might scrap that scene later, but it sure helps kick off a novel!

I just looked at the time stamps. I went to bed because I was brain-fried, and here are all you other people who were up even later than I was. Anna Campbell, of course, was having her regular day at that point, but the rest of you? Wow, you sleep even less than I thought!

Great continuations ladies...Helen...really like #1 Marisa I agree with PJ....talent my friend...talent!

To all of the talented Bandits: Do you sometimes write like that--with a story starter and take it the entire way to the end? Just curious.

Hey Deb,

I don't really start with WORDS but definately snatches of scenes sparked by an action, a conversation. One of my new paranormal stories was inspired by watching a black haired Irishman working at stone cutting....especially when he used his saw :-)

You betcha, Christine! And after all the rest of you looked at that photo, looked at who was doing today, and said, "Oh, I hope they don't do anything to that beautiful house," my course was set. BWAHAHAHA!

Deb said: To all of the talentd Bandits: Do you sometimes write like that--with a story starter and take it the entire way to the end? Just curious.

Great question Deb. I love doing things like this, taking a photo and making up a story. I sometimes do it as a writing exercise when I'm stuck or just want to do something different before I settle in to write for the day.

I actually keep meaning to try doing a whole book this way. Hey, I'd read any of these if the book started the way these start!

Deb wrote: To all of the talentd Bandits: Do you sometimes write like that--with a story starter and take it the entire way to the end? Just curious.

That has been my usual process. I get an idea for a character and a problem and then usually an idea for an opening, and I go from there.

Lately I've been getting ideas for disjointed scenes in the plot arc, often out of order. While this is annoying because it doesn't fit lineal thinking and orderly 1-2-3 writing, I've found that going with it leads to more complexity (always good) and more character texture (also good). So for now I'm going with that process.

Marisa, these are great. I like your use of the paranormal twist on mine. Then you've got that twist with the ex and the kidlet, rescuing the woman from herself, and then the old debt the heroine owes the target.

You and Maria were the first to get us to do something like this, so hat's off to you for starting something so fun.

Nancy said: You betcha, Christine! And after all the rest of you looked at that photo, looked at who was doing today, and said, "Oh, I hope they don't do anything to that beautiful house," my course was set. BWAHAHAHA!

Snork. Of course it was. *shakes head, laughs* I really considered blowing it up, I realllllly did. Grins.

Oops, hit send before I meant to. I was going to say that being a historic preservationist, I just could NOT blow that house up, even in fiction. Grins. I tried - rewrote the vignette four times - but couldn't bring myself to do it. Ha!

KJ, I also loved seeing the different ways we all took the photos this week. Y'all know, but no one else does, that the Wednesday group, at least, didn't consult. We just did them and sent them in. I looked at the vignettes last night and just sat here grinning--loved everyone's take on that photo.

Kim wrote: Now, I might scrap that scene later, but it sure helps kick off a novel!

This is a good point. I don't know who came up with the saying that you sometimes have to "murder your darlings," but I've scrapped scenes I loved writing. When they don't fit or can't be made to fit with the final direction of the story, they have to go. It's always painful, though.

Which you always, always do, Duchesse. This is one thing I so absolutely love about your books. I've told you but am now telling the rest of the world that I read the opening of Dark and Dangerous, where everything literally blows up, with the heroine doing the blowing, and said, "Dang, I wish I'd written this."

So anybody who loves boom and hasn't read that book needs to go get it. Now. We'll be here when you get back.

No. Not possible, but leaning in the door frame was the man of her dreams, tall, dark, handsome, yet...he was dressed like that Mr. Darcy character on TV. "Just in time for the BBQ..." He drawled in a sexy baritone. His voice was like crushed velvet.Mariah crossed her arms, tapping her three inch heel on the porch. Twelve Oaks? A BBQ? Oh come ON!

"I am not into LARPing." The man's sexy eyebrows knotted in confusion."LARPing?? Live action role playing? I didn't sign up for this!" She huffed.

The man laughed, his voice caressing her all over. "Who is role playin' darlin'? Frankly, I don't give a damn what you think, only go get your party gown on, the guests are arriving..."The nicker of a horse caught her attention. Mariah turned to see carriages arriving, the concrete driveway with the cars...gone. There were suddenly more tress than she remembered. Tables were being set up on the lawn by a bunch of African American men...

Marci's breath caught. Plenty of women painted their nails red -- it didn't mean a thing. Even when the yellow diamond on the ring finger glinted in the Alabama sun, her brain refused to accept what her eyes were telling her.

She'd waited so long to find and destroy the sadistic perv who'd taken her sister's innocence.

Slick with sweat, her finger tightened on the trigger. She could kill him now without a hint of regret should her bullet take down the slut who stood behind him.

But she had to know.

She only had to wait a minute. The bastard turned into his lover's embrace and roughly hauled her against him.

There was no need for Marci to adjust the zoom. The white streak in the woman's jet black hair was visible even at this distance.

Marti would know it anywhere. She even knew when the streak had appeared -- the day her sister's body was found. Her little sister, murdered by the bastard in her sites.

Do you sometimes write like that--with a story starter and take it the entire way to the end? Just curious.

Deb, that's not the way I do it, usually, but I'm actually looking forward to the day I get to do so.

The reason I don't is that I have a stack of ideas as high as my head that want to be written--and all of those came from some kind of different place--either as a larger overarching plot of a scenario based on a what-if.

If I ever run out of those, I will use just this kind of thing to create story--I'm very visual, so I'll use a picture just like this, which sort of speaks to me, and I'll just let it stew in my brain and see what the muse comes up with. The first story I ever wrote as a child when I really felt the "flow" was from looking at a picture like this. It's why I love doing vignettes like this so much. I've never done a novel length piece from a picture before though.

Like Anna, my initial impression was "historical" and none of the vignettes were, so I was surprised.

Isn't it interesting that the boom girls chose this particular photo? It spoke to every one of us. I think it is the hazy atmospheric mystery about it, and the monster live oaks which make me think of halloween-style arms reaching out for me.

I love how each person looks at something as sees it completely differently.

Gabe heard a noise, like a rat scurrying in the walls. There she was, digging behind books on a shelf. She grabbed what looked like a worn leather tome, she hugged it to her ample chest, closing her eyes. "I found it..." she murmured.She was even more beautiful than he had observed during the tour.

She sensed his presence, looking up at him with the most glorious blue eyes he had ever seen. Damn, he was being affected by her, this thief. She moved, as if to sprint from the room, Gabe stopped her. He grabbed her arm to impede her escape. It was if he touched an icicle. Yet warmth traveled though his body, straight to his heart and points below. "Don't go..." he whispered huskily.

"I won't be going now...I am where I belong..." She stood on her toes and kissed him. The contact was searing, he pulled her close, kissing her deeply. A slight moan escaped her lips.Then, it was like he was holding...nothing. He pulled back.She was translucent, floating.She was a damned ghost...

Hi everyone,This is rather fun. Here is another go of mine. I can only think of endings for the first two though.

1) The next thing Ian, Rick, and Lisa knew was a swooshing sound coming towards them. Looking up Lisa saw red hot arrows about to rain down upon them. "Move!" shouted Rick. The three of them made a mad dash for house as arrows rained down upon them. As they got closer more and more arrows were coming. Lisa was sure she was going to be a goner when something happened. Something she wasn't all that sure about. All she knew was that she heard the sound of machinery being broken.

"Hey you's what you doing here? Get out"

Ian, Lisa, and Rick turned around only to be faced with what they were sure was the demon mastermind and his blue fish looking parter.

The blue fish spoke first "What my friend means to say is whatever are you three doing here? It's rather dangerous don't you know. This house has been taken over by demons"

"Yes we know" said Rick "We're here to get rid of them and it".

"I was afraid of that" said that blue fish. "We might as well introduce ourselves. My name is Abe and this is my friend Hellboy. We're professional demon hunters, so why don't you leave things to us".

2)with the oddest gentleman she had ever glazed upon. He looked just like the dandy's she had scene in the papers who offers up fashion advice. "This why my dear and might I add those shoes look gorgeous on you. The dress... you certainly can't meet the master in that drab thing. We must get you changed into something more suitable. Come along my dear." With this Mariah wondered what exactly had she gotten herself into.

I was sort of surprised that no one but me threatened the house. This explains you (Jeanne), anyway. *g*

And it fits you, I must admit.

There's no way I could blow up that house. Or burn it down. I didn't even consider it. I live in a house that's almost that old, and we've been working on it for more than ten years. Old houses have souls. I can't kill them. :0)

Gabe edged silently toward the balcony, where a flash of color caught his eye. So that was how she planned to get in.

He'd never much liked the heavy blood-red draperies that shrouded the windows of his ancestral home, but they made a great hiding place. He should know -- as a child, he'd often hidden in the musty folds.

His memories weren't of giggling games of hide-and-seek, but of gut-clenching fear that his rampaging grandfather would find and beat him. Which he usually did.

Light footsteps tripped down the hall, alerting Gabe to the presence of his intriguing thief.

The woman on the tour had been sleek and attractive in a calculating way. The kind of woman who would use her looks as a weapon.

He knew better than to let down his guard with a woman like that.

Gabe held his breath as the heavy door swung open. The well-oiled hinges made no sound.

Armed with a Maglite and dressed all in clingy black, a wet-dream ninja strode confidently into the library.

Gabe swallowed and tried to ignore the attributes his thief had hidden under the trench coat she'd worn earlier. Her face alone was a lethal weapon, but the rest of her -- dynamite.

He didn't move a muscle as she made right for the Thomas Cole painting that hid the safe. He was so focused on her nimble fingers twirling the dial he almost missed the metallic snick of metal on metal.

His breath hissed as a giant of a man in pirate garb crept up behind the woman at the safe, one hand on the hilt of the extremely sharp sword he'd just slipped from its sheath.

Gabe launched himself toward her, but he feared he'd be too late.

"Look out!" he bellowed.

The Mag-lite clattered to the ground as the thief spun to face him. He tried to shout a warning, but the words died in his throat.

The dark eyes of his glamorous thief were no more shocked than his. She didn't flinch as the pirate brought down his sword with a mighty swing that should have cleaved her in two.

With a silent roar of rage, the pirate stormed past Gabe and through the closed French doors to the balcony.

Gabe ran to the window, gaping as the pirate's disembodied hat disappeared into the alley of oaks.

Where was the ka-boom? The earth-shattering ka-boom? The demons apparently enlisted some incompetent help.

Lisa looked down. "Don't move your foot...if you do, it will blow.""I can't stand like this for eternity..." Ian hissed through his clenched teeth. "We have to blow the house, you know this."

Lisa did know it, and as much as she would be saddened over her house's destruction, the possible loss of Ian stung even more. Last night...was beyond anything she ever experienced with a man. She wanted more, she wanted...him. Be damned if she would see him blown to bits."I'll call Rick..."Ian reached over and grasped her arm. "Don't bother sweetcheeks, no need..."Before her eyes, Ian began to transform, The chestnut haired hunk changed into some creature, complete with tentacles along with his arms, green slime dripped from his mouth, a mouth filled with two rows of sharp fangs, twisted now into a smug, evil smile. "There will be no explosions this day, unless, you want to relive last night...?" It sneered.

Marisa, love Lisa's powers sending everyone to Kentucky! Those are super powers I would like! Ooh, nice twist to Mr. Right (mind you, Mr Right sounds like Mr. Yummy!). And Mr. 3 is a knight in shining armor type, yummy too! And what an intriguing end to number 4! Bravo, you!!!! And seriously, it's lovely to see you!

Nancy, as far as I know, none of us read anyone else's vignettes. So they're just as much a surprise for the people participating when they appear as they are for the people who come to play. All-knowing PJ is the only one who has all the info!

Jeanne's books are brilliant, Nancy! If anyone hasn't read them, pick them up. But don't expect to turn off the light until you finish. They're rollercoaster rides!

Wow, Becke, that's one sexy ending to the vignette. Hmm, can I have the pirate king? Oh, and now I've got Gilbert and Sullivan replacing Boom, Boom, Boom. It is, it is a glorious thing, to be a pirate KIIIIIINGGGGG! I guess it's an improvement.

Oh, man, Drew! Had to laugh about the Kralek! Talk about regrets, I've had a few!

WOW! Another fantastic set of vignettes! And some absolutely GREAT continuations!

As always it is so fascinating to read the different voices and see the totally different takes on the same picture. Our group didn't discuss or share our responses so it was a complete surprise yesterday to see what Trish, Beth, and Mme had come up with for our piccie. Such FUN!

Deb, you asked about our writing processes, and I'd say mine generally starts with my characters. Usually my hero -- go figure! Not always, but usually once I know the characters, the story grows out of their inner and outer conflicts. But I never know WHERE I'll find my inspirations...That's part of the fun of writing.

I will tryRick had to think of some way not to blow this house up for the time being anyway. The demons had his sister hostage and under a spell he had to get her out first then he would get them with the help of Ian and Lisa. He knew that Ian and Lisa were drawn to each other and knew he could count on them but he couldn't tell them yet.

It is still early here in OZ and I have to get ready for work soon I will pop back to check everyons endings they are so good.

What harm would it do, to give it a few minutes more? He was undoing his belt buckle. If the spectacularly muscular chest sprinkled with curly dark hair was any indication, what lay below those skin tight jeans was worth a peek, surely.

Now she knew why she was sweating and shaking. Never in all these years, all her hits, had she lusted so blatantly after a mark.He was a sick bastard...so she was told. It didn't matter to her, the reason for the hit. She didn't care. It was a job, and when she took a job, she always saw it through. She was Marci by-god...Her mouth dropped open at the glorious naked form in her sights. By God is right. Greek God, all the way. Utterly stunning. This would be a serious waste of man-meat. She watched him walk around his room in his Plantation mansion right out of 'North and South'. By God, he looked like Orry Main, only...more. Much, much more. His movements as graceful and lithe as a panther. Gorgeous, dangerous. Regret washed over her. But, there was no more for it.She pulled the trigger...Nothing.Her rifle jammed. Not possible, she always checked her equipment. She could use her back-up, her M-24. She smiled. Nope. Fate had taken a hand. She saluted the Greek God. "Until we meet again..."

I LOVE these twists! "I slept with Kralek" LOL - great. Becke - the woman with the white streak in her hair - fantastic! The thief who's really a ghost - what fun. You guys are good. I don't envy the ones picking a winner.

Deb - You asked about process. I don't start from a photo, but after reading these vignettes I'm thinking maybe I should (grin). I start with two characters and a conflict - then I think about the best place to introduce that conflict then the writing starts. Of course, the idea has probably fermented a bit in my head by the time the words hit the paper.

Love how each of these vignettes are so very different and really reflect the author's vision. What fun!

Vignette #2 - She inhaled a deep breath. Here goes. Turning, she came face-to-face with --

Connor Marshall, the arrogant jerk who'd cost her the job she'd been working for ever since college.

Who was he to say she "lacked the sophistication" for broadcasting?

She'd fought tooth-and-nail for that first interview, and smiled until she thought her face would break through all the ensuing interviews. She'd aced them all, winning over everyone, up to and including Connor Marshall's hatchet-faced executive assistant.

The contracts were ready for her to sign, all she needed was his okay. He'd walked into the conference room, run those steel gray eyes over her in a dismissive glance and said one word: "No."

She'd been calm at first, almost as cool as he was. But when his assistant argued for her, he tossed out the insulting phrase that continued to haunt her.

She'd paid a small fortune to rid herself of her backwoods accent -- money she could ill afford. And he had the nerve to cast her off without so much as a trial period? She'd never forgive him for that.

And HE was supposed to be her Mr. Right? She should have known better than to put her trust in a computer.

Hey Becke, I'm with Nancy on this one. If you can't write it w/o it turning dark, just GO DARK! Grins. I really wanted to write comedy, but couldn't seem to write anythign w/o a love story and a lot of bloodshed.

Nancy, I don't know if you can really screw up Penzance. Sound of Music, Oklahoma, yep, those can be made really, really bad. (anyone else see The Pacifier? Snork!) But Penzance is so campy it somehow comes right even in the hands of high schoolers. Ha!

Ian reached out, his fingers with hers a split second before the explosion rocked the air.

The warmth of his strong hand was all that kept Lisa tethered to reality as their bodies were swept through the vortex.

He hit the ground first, pulling her against his chest to cushion her fall. For a moment they just lay there, gasping for breath.

When her heartbeat returned to normal, Lisa pushed herself away from the security of Ian's embrace and took in her surroundings.

The twelve oak saplings lined the drive up to the antebellum house. The fresh white paint shone brightly in the summer sun.

Ian sat up and shook himself off. "The plantation - what a surprise."

Oh course, it never occurred to either of them to ask where they were -- it was always the same place. Who would they be up against this time? Kralek and his soul-stealing demons?

"We need to find a change of clothes, fast." She tugged Ian to his feet and headed for the old stone shed up in the hills. They always found suitable clothes waiting there, and had stopped wondering why or how.

She raced Ian up the hill, ducking into the stone hut to assimilate what she had just seen. For miles and miles, as far as the eye could see, blue-coated Union soldiers marched across the hills, headed their way.

"Shit." Ian held up a neatly pressed gray uniform, while Lisa tried to figure out how the heck Southern belles got themselves into the flouncy petticoats and layers of fabric like the gown set on the chair in front of her.

Lisa had long ago realized the futility of cursing whatever god or demon decided to make her and Ian into playthings.

But was it too much to ask that when they were dumped in the middle of a deadly battle, that they could -- just once -- be on the winning side?

Yeah, I'm going to the dark side a lot lately. My website was critiqued recently and that was the main comment -- that the sunny flowers might have reflected my earlier stories well, but not so much what I'm working on now.

One of my clever friends suggested I replace the daisies with dead flowers instead. It's an idea . . .

"Human help, my...foot," Lisa whispered. "Ian, I'll have to tryto do something with this wire!"

"Lisa, I can't move," Ian growled.

"Give me a few minutes while I tryto think of how we'll handle this.I just hope I don't have to do anydigging, I just had my nails done'"she replied. "Wish I'd been therethe day the Chinese began usingexplosives. I'd have told themsomeone could really get hurt!"

I wanted to play again today but had to go to work, I even sent the vignettes to work thinking maybe on my lunch but noooooooo the spam catcher got my mail...I have some serious pouting going on over here folks.

Vignette #2: .. the man of her dreams! Her real dreams of the pastfew weeks. The man she had givenherself to night after night! Hewas here,in the flesh so to speak,mere steps away from her. Who was he? She was about to receive theanswer to her question.

#3:..he would know what she was up to. They might also find the answer to his ghostly question.It would be interesting to knowmore about the family's ancestors,be it good or bad.

#4:..as she lay outstretched on the ground. She took a deep breath,held it and began to squeeze thetrigger. Suddenly her vision wasobscured by a phalanx of combatboots. She halted all movement and released the breath she washolding. A voice gritted out,"Didyou lose your way to the front door, M'am? May we assist you in finding it? Your friend is waitingfor you!"

Becke, your scenario for #1 reminds me of the first time we took the boy to the Festival Park museum in Roanoke, NC. They had costumes kids could try on from various periods. I have a wonderful shot of him in Elizabethan dress in a period room mockup.

Anyway, when we got to the Civil War, he went into the camp tent, looked at the displayed uniforms and said, "Which color was against slavery?" We told him, and he promptly donned the blue. Which, of course, was the winning color as well.

I think the photograph is of aplantation in Louisiana. If it'sthe one I'm thinking of (can'tremember the name!) it was alsoused years ago in wedding sceneson Days Of Our Lives. It was oneone of Bo and Hope's weddings!LOL.

I Googled "antebellum draperies" or something like that when I was writing that last post (for Vignette #1) and the first thing that came up was the exact same picture. It was described as a Louisiana mansion, and I think it was called Oak Alley.

Vignette 1 by Nancy Northcott“Don’t move Ian!” As Ian gave her the “well duh” look Lisa knelt down to take a look up close. “It’s not that bad, really, just stand still.” Lisa took off around the lawn to the rock garden on the side. She eased open the shed door, pulled out a hand cart and loaded some good sized rocks then ran them back around to Ian. “We just have to have enough weight to hold it there.” She said as she started loading the rocks as close to Ian’s feet as she could.“Get back Lisa, if this doesn’t work there is no reason for you to go out with me. Just in case”…… Ian took Lisa’s face in his hands and kissed her like tomorrow wasn’t going to come. Maybe it wasn’t. “Yeah, just as good as I thought it was.” He said as he raised his face. “Okay, that’s good, get back now.”Lisa gave Ian one last kiss then turned and ran back to where Rick was still under cover. Just as she came up to him it dawned on her, human help, and when Rick said move out, he didn’t. Lisa stopped dead and even as she watched she could see Rick’s eyes taking on the glow that could only be demonic. Oh, no, no, Lisa turns back in time to see Ian leap away from the wire and roll but Rick already has her. “Run Ian, it was Rick, it was Rick all along,” she screams. Instead of running Ian comes to her and Rick. “You know I can kill her with a flick of my wrist.” Rick says as Ian comes closer, “And you know he can kill you with his mind alone” says Ian, knodding his head to a spot just behind Rick.“That is the oldest trick in the book human.” Rick sneers, suddenly his grip on Lisa loosens and his eyes grow wide with shock, he feels it, the twisting, gnawing pain begins in his middle and spreads quickly. Jerking around he sees him, the only one strong enough to keep and control the power of life. Backing away, his face grimacing in pain, Rick turns and runs to the mansion, screaming “get out, get out, he is here.” Even as his words die on the air there is a great rumbling beneath the earth and the mansion implodes taking the demons and sealing the portal to their world forever.Lisa can only watch as her beloved home is destroyed, nothing but ashes falling like snow about them. “It’s gone, I have no home.” Ian puts his arm around her pulling her close and murmurs in her ear. “You have a home baby………… with me.”

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